English
"Eh?WotIsay?
Ispiktruew'enIsaydatBucktwodevils."
ThiswasFrancois'sspeechnextmorningwhenhediscoveredSpitzmissingandBuckcoveredwithwounds.
Hedrewhimtothefireandbyitslightpointedthemout.
"DatSpitzfightlakhell,"saidPerrault,ashesurveyedthegapingripsandcuts.
"An'datBuckfightlaktwohells,"wasFrancois'sanswer."An'nowwemakegoodtime.NomoreSpitz,nomoretrouble,sure."
WhilePerraultpackedthecampoutfitandloadedthesled,thedog-driverproceededtoharnessthedogs.
BucktrotteduptotheplaceSpitzwouldhaveoccupiedasleader;butFrancois,notnoticinghim,broughtSol-lekstothecovetedposition.
Inhisjudgment,Sol-lekswasthebestlead-dogleft.
BuckspranguponSol-leksinafury,drivinghimbackandstandinginhisplace.
"Eh?eh?"Francoiscried,slappinghisthighsgleefully."LookatdatBuck.HeemkeeldatSpitz,heemt'inktotakedejob."
"Go'way,Chook!"hecried,butBuckrefusedtobudge.
HetookBuckbythescruffoftheneck,andthoughthedoggrowledthreateningly,draggedhimtoonesideandreplacedSol-leks.
Theolddogdidnotlikeit,andshowedplainlythathewasafraidofBuck.
Francoiswasobdurate,butwhenheturnedhisbackBuckagaindisplacedSol-leks,whowasnotatallunwillingtogo.
Francoiswasangry."Now,byGar,Ifeexyou!"hecried,comingbackwithaheavyclubinhishand.
Buckrememberedthemanintheredsweater,andretreatedslowly;nordidheattempttochargeinwhenSol-lekswasoncemorebroughtforward.
Buthecircledjustbeyondtherangeoftheclub,snarlingwithbitternessandrage;andwhilehecircledhewatchedtheclubsoastododgeitifthrownbyFrancois,forhewasbecomewiseinthewayofclubs.
Thedriverwentabouthiswork,andhecalledtoBuckwhenhewasreadytoputhiminhisoldplaceinfrontofDave.Buckretreatedtwoorthreesteps.
Francoisfollowedhimup,whereuponheagainretreated.
Aftersometimeofthis,Francoisthrewdowntheclub,thinkingthatBuckfearedathrashing.ButBuckwasinopenrevolt.
Hewanted,nottoescapeaclubbing,buttohavetheleadership.Itwashisbyright.
Hehadearnedit,andhewouldnotbecontentwithless.
Perraulttookahand.Betweenthemtheyranhimaboutforthebetterpartofanhour.Theythrewclubsathim.Hedodged.
Theycursedhim,andhisfathersandmothersbeforehim,andallhisseedtocomeafterhimdowntotheremotestgeneration,andeveryhaironhisbodyanddropofbloodinhisveins;andheansweredcursewithsnarlandkeptoutoftheirreach.
Hedidnottrytorunaway,butretreatedaroundandaroundthecamp,advertisingplainlythatwhenhisdesirewasmet,hewouldcomeinandbegood.
Francoissatdownandscratchedhishead.Perraultlookedathiswatchandswore.
Timewasflying,andtheyshouldhavebeenonthetrailanhourgone.Francoisscratchedhisheadagain.
Heshookitandgrinnedsheepishlyatthecourier,whoshruggedhisshouldersinsignthattheywerebeaten.
ThenFrancoiswentuptowhereSol-leksstoodandcalledtoBuck.
Bucklaughed,asdogslaugh,yetkepthisdistance.
FrancoisunfastenedSol-leks'stracesandputhimbackinhisoldplace.
Theteamstoodharnessedtothesledinanunbrokenline,readyforthetrail.
TherewasnoplaceforBucksaveatthefront.
OncemoreFrancoiscalled,andoncemoreBucklaughedandkeptaway.
"T'rowdowndeclub,"Perraultcommanded.
Francoiscomplied,whereuponBucktrottedin,laughingtriumphantly,andswungaroundintopositionattheheadoftheteam.
Histraceswerefastened,thesledbrokenout,andwithbothmenrunningtheydashedoutontotherivertrail.
Highlyasthedog-driverhadforevaluedBuck,withhistwodevils,hefound,whilethedaywasyetyoung,thathehadundervalued.
AtaboundBucktookupthedutiesofleadership;andwherejudgmentwasrequired,andquickthinkingandquickacting,heshowedhimselfthesuperiorevenofSpitz,ofwhomFrancoishadneverseenanequal.
Butitwasingivingthelawandmakinghismatesliveuptoit,thatBuckexcelled.
DaveandSol-leksdidnotmindthechangeinleadership.Itwasnoneoftheirbusiness.
Theirbusinesswastotoil,andtoilmightily,inthetraces.
Solongasthatwerenotinterferedwith,theydidnotcarewhathappened.
Billee,thegood-natured,couldleadforalltheycared,solongashekeptorder.
Therestoftheteam,however,hadgrownunrulyduringthelastdaysofSpitz,andtheirsurprisewasgreatnowthatBuckproceededtolickthemintoshape.
Pike,whopulledatBuck'sheels,andwhoneverputanouncemoreofhisweightagainstthebreast-bandthanhewascompelledtodo,wasswiftlyandrepeatedlyshakenforloafing;anderethefirstdaywasdonehewaspullingmorethaneverbeforeinhislife.
Thefirstnightincamp,Joe,thesourone,waspunishedroundly—athingthatSpitzhadneversucceededindoing.
Bucksimplysmotheredhimbyvirtueofsuperiorweight,andcuthimuptillheceasedsnappingandbegantowhineformercy.
Thegeneraltoneoftheteampickedupimmediately.
Itrecovereditsold-timesolidarity,andoncemorethedogsleapedasonedoginthetraces.
AttheRinkRapidstwonativehuskies,TeekandKoona,wereadded;andtheceleritywithwhichBuckbrokethemintookawayFrancois'sbreath.
"NevairesuchadogasdatBuck!"hecried."No,nevaire!Heemworthonet'ousan'dollair,byGar!Eh?Wotyousay,Perrault?"
AndPerraultnodded.Hewasaheadoftherecordthen,andgainingdaybyday.
Thetrailwasinexcellentcondition,wellpackedandhard,andtherewasnonew-fallensnowwithwhichtocontend.Itwasnottoocold.
Thetemperaturedroppedtofiftybelowzeroandremainedtherethewholetrip.
Themenrodeandranbyturn,andthedogswerekeptonthejump,withbutinfrequentstoppages.
TheThirtyMileRiverwascomparativelycoatedwithice,andtheycoveredinonedaygoingoutwhathadtakenthemtendayscomingin.
Inoneruntheymadeasixty-miledashfromthefootofLakeLeBargetotheWhiteHorseRapids.
AcrossMarsh,Tagish,andBennett(seventymilesoflakes),theyflewsofastthatthemanwhoseturnitwastoruntowedbehindthesledattheendofarope.
AndonthelastnightofthesecondweektheytoppedWhitePassanddroppeddowntheseaslopewiththelightsofSkaguayandoftheshippingattheirfeet.
Itwasarecordrun.Eachdayforfourteendaystheyhadaveragedfortymiles.
ForthreedaysPerraultandFrancoisthrewchestsupanddownthemainstreetofSkaguayandweredelugedwithinvitationstodrink,whiletheteamwastheconstantcentreofaworshipfulcrowdofdog-bustersandmushers.
Thenthreeorfourwesternbadmenaspiredtocleanoutthetown,wereriddledlikepepper-boxesfortheirpains,andpublicinterestturnedtootheridols.Nextcameofficialorders.
FrancoiscalledBucktohim,threwhisarmsaroundhim,weptoverhim.
AndthatwasthelastofFrancoisandPerrault.
Likeothermen,theypassedoutofBuck'slifeforgood.
AScotchhalf-breedtookchargeofhimandhismates,andincompanywithadozenotherdog-teamshestartedbackoverthewearytrailtoDawson.
Itwasnolightrunningnow,norrecordtime,butheavytoileachday,withaheavyloadbehind;forthiswasthemailtrain,carryingwordfromtheworldtothemenwhosoughtgoldundertheshadowofthePole.
Buckdidnotlikeit,butheboreupwelltothework,takingprideinitafterthemannerofDaveandSol-leks,andseeingthathismates,whethertheypridedinitornot,didtheirfairshare.
Itwasamonotonouslife,operatingwithmachine-likeregularity.Onedaywasverylikeanother.
Atacertaintimeeachmorningthecooksturnedout,fireswerebuilt,andbreakfastwaseaten.
Then,whilesomebrokecamp,othersharnessedthedogs,andtheywereunderwayanhourorsobeforethedarknessfellwhichgavewarningofdawn.Atnight,campwasmade.
Somepitchedtheflies,otherscutfirewoodandpineboughsforthebeds,andstillotherscarriedwateroriceforthecooks.Also,thedogswerefed.
Tothem,thiswastheonefeatureoftheday,thoughitwasgoodtoloafaround,afterthefishwaseaten,foranhourorsowiththeotherdogs,ofwhichtherewerefivescoreandodd.
Therewerefiercefightersamongthem,butthreebattleswiththefiercestbroughtBucktomastery,sothatwhenhebristledandshowedhisteeththeygotoutofhisway.
Bestofall,perhaps,helovedtolienearthefire,hindlegscrouchedunderhim,forelegsstretchedoutinfront,headraised,andeyesblinkingdreamilyattheflames.
SometimeshethoughtofJudgeMiller'sbighouseinthesun-kissedSantaClaraValley,andofthecementswimming-tank,andYsabel,theMexicanhairless,andToots,theJapanesepug;butoftenerherememberedthemanintheredsweater,thedeathofCurly,thegreatfightwithSpitz,andthegoodthingshehadeatenorwouldliketoeat.Hewasnothomesick.
TheSunlandwasverydimanddistant,andsuchmemorieshadnopoweroverhim.
Farmorepotentwerethememoriesofhishereditythatgavethingshehadneverseenbeforeaseemingfamiliarity;theinstincts(whichwerebutthememoriesofhisancestorsbecomehabits)whichhadlapsedinlaterdays,andstilllater,inhim,quickenedandbecomealiveagain.
Sometimesashecrouchedthere,blinkingdreamilyattheflames,itseemedthattheflameswereofanotherfire,andthatashecrouchedbythisotherfirehesawanotheranddifferentmanfromthehalf-breedcookbeforehim.
Thisothermanwasshorteroflegandlongerofarm,withmusclesthatwerestringyandknottyratherthanroundedandswelling.
Thehairofthismanwaslongandmatted,andhisheadslantedbackunderitfromtheeyes.
Heutteredstrangesounds,andseemedverymuchafraidofthedarkness,intowhichhepeeredcontinually,clutchinginhishand,whichhungmidwaybetweenkneeandfoot,astickwithaheavystonemadefasttotheend.
Hewasallbutnaked,araggedandfire-scorchedskinhangingpartwaydownhisback,butonhisbodytherewasmuchhair.
Insomeplaces,acrossthechestandshouldersanddowntheoutsideofthearmsandthighs,itwasmattedintoalmostathickfur.
Hedidnotstanderect,butwithtrunkinclinedforwardfromthehips,onlegsthatbentattheknees.
Abouthisbodytherewasapeculiarspringiness,orresiliency,almostcatlike,andaquickalertnessasofonewholivedinperpetualfearofthingsseenandunseen.
Atothertimesthishairymansquattedbythefirewithheadbetweenhislegsandslept.
Onsuchoccasionshiselbowswereonhisknees,hishandsclaspedabovehisheadasthoughtoshedrainbythehairyarms.
Andbeyondthatfire,inthecirclingdarkness,Buckcouldseemanygleamingcoals,twobytwo,alwaystwobytwo,whichheknewtobetheeyesofgreatbeastsofprey.
Andhecouldhearthecrashingoftheirbodiesthroughtheundergrowth,andthenoisestheymadeinthenight.
AnddreamingtherebytheYukonbank,withlazyeyesblinkingatthefire,thesesoundsandsightsofanotherworldwouldmakethehairtorisealonghisbackandstandonendacrosshisshouldersanduphisneck,tillhewhimperedlowandsuppressedly,orgrowledsoftly,andthehalf-breedcookshoutedathim,"Hey,youBuck,wakeup!"
Whereupontheotherworldwouldvanishandtherealworldcomeintohiseyes,andhewouldgetupandyawnandstretchasthoughhehadbeenasleep.
Itwasahardtrip,withthemailbehindthem,andtheheavyworkworethemdown.
TheywereshortofweightandinpoorconditionwhentheymadeDawson,andshouldhavehadatendays'oraweek'srestatleast.
Butintwodays'timetheydroppeddowntheYukonbankfromtheBarracks,loadedwithlettersfortheoutside.
Thedogsweretired,thedriversgrumbling,andtomakemattersworse,itsnowedeveryday.
Thismeantasofttrail,greaterfrictionontherunners,andheavierpullingforthedogs;yetthedriverswerefairthroughitall,anddidtheirbestfortheanimals.
Eachnightthedogswereattendedtofirst.
Theyatebeforethedriversate,andnomansoughthissleeping-robetillhehadseentothefeetofthedogshedrove.Still,theirstrengthwentdown.
Sincethebeginningofthewintertheyhadtravelledeighteenhundredmiles,draggingsledsthewholewearydistance;andeighteenhundredmileswilltelluponlifeofthetoughest.
Buckstoodit,keepinghismatesuptotheirworkandmaintainingdiscipline,thoughhe,too,wasverytired.
Billeecriedandwhimperedregularlyinhissleepeachnight.
Joewassourerthanever,andSol-lekswasunapproachable,blindsideorotherside.
ButitwasDavewhosufferedmostofall.Somethinghadgonewrongwithhim.
Hebecamemoremoroseandirritable,andwhencampwaspitchedatoncemadehisnest,wherehisdriverfedhim.
Onceoutoftheharnessanddown,hedidnotgetonhisfeetagaintillharness-uptimeinthemorning.
Sometimes,inthetraces,whenjerkedbyasuddenstoppageofthesled,orbystrainingtostartit,hewouldcryoutwithpain.
Thedriverexaminedhim,butcouldfindnothing.
Allthedriversbecameinterestedinhiscase.
Theytalkeditoveratmeal-time,andovertheirlastpipesbeforegoingtobed,andonenighttheyheldaconsultation.
Hewasbroughtfromhisnesttothefireandwaspressedandproddedtillhecriedoutmanytimes.
Somethingwaswronginside,buttheycouldlocatenobrokenbones,couldnotmakeitout.
BythetimeCassiarBarwasreached,hewassoweakthathewasfallingrepeatedlyinthetraces.
TheScotchhalf-breedcalledahaltandtookhimoutoftheteam,makingthenextdog,Sol-leks,fasttothesled.
HisintentionwastorestDave,lettinghimrunfreebehindthesled.
Sickashewas,Daveresentedbeingtakenout,gruntingandgrowlingwhilethetraceswereunfastened,andwhimperingbroken-heartedlywhenhesawSol-leksinthepositionhehadheldandservedsolong.
Fortheprideoftraceandtrailwashis,and,sickuntodeath,hecouldnotbearthatanotherdogshoulddohiswork.
Whenthesledstarted,heflounderedinthesoftsnowalongsidethebeatentrail,attackingSol-lekswithhisteeth,rushingagainsthimandtryingtothrusthimoffintothesoftsnowontheotherside,strivingtoleapinsidehistracesandgetbetweenhimandthesled,andallthewhilewhiningandyelpingandcryingwithgriefandpain.
Thehalf-breedtriedtodrivehimawaywiththewhip;buthepaidnoheedtothestinginglash,andthemanhadnotthehearttostrikeharder.
Daverefusedtorunquietlyonthetrailbehindthesled,wherethegoingwaseasy,butcontinuedtoflounderalongsideinthesoftsnow,wherethegoingwasmostdifficult,tillexhausted.
Thenhefell,andlaywherehefell,howlinglugubriouslyasthelongtrainofsledschurnedby.
Withthelastremnantofhisstrengthhemanagedtostaggeralongbehindtillthetrainmadeanotherstop,whenheflounderedpastthesledstohisown,wherehestoodalongsideSol-leks.
Hisdriverlingeredamomenttogetalightforhispipefromthemanbehind.Thenhereturnedandstartedhisdogs.
Theyswungoutonthetrailwithremarkablelackofexertion,turnedtheirheadsuneasily,andstoppedinsurprise.
Thedriverwassurprised,too;thesledhadnotmoved.
Hecalledhiscomradestowitnessthesight.
DavehadbittenthroughbothofSol-leks'straces,andwasstandingdirectlyinfrontofthesledinhisproperplace.
Hepleadedwithhiseyestoremainthere.Thedriverwasperplexed.
Hiscomradestalkedofhowadogcouldbreakitsheartthroughbeingdeniedtheworkthatkilledit,andrecalledinstancestheyhadknown,wheredogs,toooldforthetoil,orinjured,haddiedbecausetheywerecutoutofthetraces.
Also,theyhelditamercy,sinceDavewastodieanyway,thatheshoulddieinthetraces,heart-easyandcontent.
Sohewasharnessedinagain,andproudlyhepulledasofold,thoughmorethanoncehecriedoutinvoluntarilyfromthebiteofhisinwardhurt.
Severaltimeshefelldownandwasdraggedinthetraces,andoncethesledranuponhimsothathelimpedthereafterinoneofhishindlegs.
Butheheldouttillcampwasreached,whenhisdrivermadeaplaceforhimbythefire.Morningfoundhimtooweaktotravel.
Atharness-uptimehetriedtocrawltohisdriver.
Byconvulsiveeffortshegotonhisfeet,staggered,andfell.
Thenhewormedhiswayforwardslowlytowardwheretheharnesseswerebeingputonhismates.
Hewouldadvancehisforelegsanddraguphisbodywithasortofhitchingmovement,whenhewouldadvancehisforelegsandhitchaheadagainforafewmoreinches.
Hisstrengthlefthim,andthelasthismatessawofhimhelaygaspinginthesnowandyearningtowardthem.
Buttheycouldhearhimmournfullyhowlingtilltheypassedoutofsightbehindabeltofrivertimber.
Herethetrainwashalted.TheScotchhalf-breedslowlyretracedhisstepstothecamptheyhadleft.Themenceasedtalking.Arevolver-shotrangout.Themancamebackhurriedly.
Thewhipssnapped,thebellstinkledmerrily,thesledschurnedalongthetrail;butBuckknew,andeverydogknew,whathadtakenplacebehindthebeltofrivertrees.
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